Marie Atkins shelter resident holds tight to hope for family reunion

Thirty-year-old Richard Beckford* has one wish for 2025, and it is to reunite with his three children.

Beckford, a resident of the Marie Atkins Night Shelter in downtown, Kingston is optimistic that 2025 will be the year when he will not only reunite with his children but also be able to provide for them once again.

“I have been here since July when the mother of my children and I separated and she asked me to leave home. Being here has saved my life because when she asked me to leave a few months earlier, I was living on the streets and someone suggested that I come here,” he revealed.

“A week after I got here, I had a seizure which almost took my life. I was just sitting here having lunch when it happened. The staff were quick to respond and they assisted me to the hospital and I am grateful to them for that because I am alive and with that, I have hope that things will change for the better soon,” he affirmed.

Beckford has not had a steady job since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. However, that has only motivated him to want to support his family.

“It has been hard because I have been unable to provide for my children. However, I call them every day because I won’t let what happened between their mother and me prevent me from being there as best as I can,” he said.

The Kingston native is also motivated to make 2025 a happy new year for another reason.

“My eldest child turned 11 in early December and will start intense preparations for the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) exam next year. He is doing well in school, but I also want to be there to help him focus so he can fulfill his potential. My other two children, a daughter is eight and my other son is four. But I also want to be there for them as well,” he said.

Beckford was one of more than 140 persons who attended the JN Money Luncheon at the Marie Atkins Night Shelter, recently. The part-time drummer was pleased with the initiative.

“I am glad they came here to spend time with us and I thank them for the lunch they provided for us today because I was told they would be coming and so I was looking forward to it,” he said.

Miss Sanya Wallace, Assistant General Manager, Strategy, Marketing and Sales at JN Money, said the company looked forward to undertaking charitable initiatives at Christmas.

“Every Christmas we take time out to remember the less fortunate among us by making donations or hosting this annual treat to help spread the Christmas cheer,” she explained.

 “As a company, we have a proud tradition of assisting our community, especially those who are most vulnerable, because not everyone will be able to enjoy Christmas as they would want. This is why we focus on giving back and spreading the cheer at this time of year, because if we can show love and compassion to those most in need, we are playing our part in helping to make Jamaica and by extension, the world a better place,” Wallace added.

Mavis Farquharson, Inspector of the Poor for the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC), speaking on behalf of her team, said her team was grateful for JN Money’s continued support over the years.

 “The residents look forward to the visit of the JN Money team and are always happy to see them. We are also pleased with the continued support and look forward to having them again next year,” she said.

Name withheld upon request to protect against potential discrimination.